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2025 Callaway Utility Series – Apex UT

SuperStroke
Today was a bit of a weird round at my home course with half of the holes having to use temporary greens because of the cold and 4 holes closed altogether because of a bridge repair, but I still managed to get plenty of swings in with the 18* UT.

Thanks the Grandaddy crew and @hedley_lamarr's thoughts and photos, the UT kind of piqued my interest again. I had the previous model in the bag for a bit, but never quite got along with it and swapped it out for an Ai Smoke 4i. I'm gaming a Ai200 4i now but wanted to try a stronger UT to see how it would potentially fit in the bag.

My first experience with the 18* UT was on the launch monitor, and I was happy to see how consistently I was hitting it. Not just in terms of carry, ball speed and spin, but with the dispersion. LM results don't always translate to the course for me, so I was even happier today seeing the same thing happen on the course.

I hit it 7 times off the tee and found the fairway 6 times. The one I missed I was just off my line. Having hit the previous model of the UT, my fear was a lack of forgiveness on mishits. Looking down at this model, it strikes a good balance between appealing to the better player who is club is marketed to with enough thickness to not be intimidating. I was swinging my irons well today, so none of the less than perfect strikes that far off from center, but I did have one miss that was a bit low and towards the heel where a little drop off in distance and a ball flight that leaked to the right. I ended up with a fortunate roll to come back to the fairway.

I don't have any measurables' here, but the 2025 Apex UT feels more forgiving than its predecessor. Not sure if it's partially due to the different shaft I'm playing, but this model also feels/sound better to me.

In terms of ball flight, I was hitting it super straight today. I didn't see much movement one way or the other with the exception mentioned above. When I teed it up a bit higher than usual to maximize my carry, I did see the higher peak height I wanted but did not lose control of it either.

No shots off the deck so can't comment on how it works there, but I can't imagine it being an issue.
 
Jeff Spicoli said:
Today was a bit of a weird round at my home course with half of the holes having to use temporary greens because of the cold and 4 holes closed altogether because of a bridge repair, but I still managed to get plenty of swings in with the 18* UT.

Thanks the Grandaddy crew and @hedley_lamarr's thoughts and photos, the UT kind of piqued my interest again. I had the previous model in the bag for a bit, but never quite got along with it and swapped it out for an Ai Smoke 4i. I'm gaming a Ai200 4i now but wanted to try a stronger UT to see how it would potentially fit in the bag.

My first experience with the 18* UT was on the launch monitor, and I was happy to see how consistently I was hitting it. Not just in terms of carry, ball speed and spin, but with the dispersion. LM results don't always translate to the course for me, so I was even happier today seeing the same thing happen on the course.

I hit it 7 times off the tee and found the fairway 6 times. The one I missed I was just off my line. Having hit the previous model of the UT, my fear was a lack of forgiveness on mishits. Looking down at this model, it strikes a good balance between appealing to the better player who is club is marketed to with enough thickness to not be intimidating. I was swinging my irons well today, so none of the less than perfect strikes that far off from center, but I did have one miss that was a bit low and towards the heel where a little drop off in distance and a ball flight that leaked to the right. I ended up with a fortunate roll to come back to the fairway.

I don't have any measurables' here, but the 2025 Apex UT feels more forgiving than its predecessor. Not sure if it's partially due to the different shaft I'm playing, but this model also feels/sound better to me.

In terms of ball flight, I was hitting it super straight today. I didn't see much movement one way or the other with the exception mentioned above. When I teed it up a bit higher than usual to maximize my carry, I did see the higher peak height I wanted but did not lose control of it either.

No shots off the deck so can't comment on how it works there, but I can't imagine it being an issue.
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I completely agree with it being more forgiving. I played 9 holes today with no real sleep after working last night. 55 degrees windy and overcast... Once I got loosened up I hit some great shots with this. I didn't take any woods of any type so this was my tee club. I missed all over the face and the shortest shot off the tee was 188. The longest was 25. The ball wasn't running at all today so I'll take that as an acceptable, "keep the ball in front of you" tee shot. I did set up to play a high fade on a short 4 with a lot of trouble short and left. The flight was a very strong mid flight fade. I have no complaints with this being the longest shot of the day considering it was the exact target intended.

Hit this off the deck today once time. I pulled it left so hard to get read on peak height. Distance was good and the flight seemed slightly lower than what I experienced off the tee. The bottom grooves of the club were tested. The drop off was there for sure, but for a 20 degree UT/4 iron replace it was more than acceptable
 
hedley_lamarr said:
I completely agree with it being more forgiving. I played 9 holes today with no real sleep after working last night. 55 degrees windy and overcast... Once I got loosened up I hit some great shots with this. I didn't take any woods of any type so this was my tee club. I missed all over the face and the shortest shot off the tee was 188. The longest was 25. The ball wasn't running at all today so I'll take that as an acceptable, "keep the ball in front of you" tee shot. I did set up to play a high fade on a short 4 with a lot of trouble short and left. The flight was a very strong mid flight fade. I have no complaints with this being the longest shot of the day considering it was the exact target intended.

Hit this off the deck today once time. I pulled it left so hard to get read on peak height. Distance was good and the flight seemed slightly lower than what I experienced off the tee. The bottom grooves of the club were tested. The drop off was there for sure, but for a 20 degree UT/4 iron replace it was more than acceptable
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Having instant success with this club is a great sign, obviously. It's lower spin than the UW it would replace, but it's not so low where it's a concern because I am hitting plenty high and with control.
 
Jeff Spicoli said:
Having instant success with this club is a great sign, obviously. It's lower spin than the UW it would replace, but it's not so low where it's a concern because I am hitting plenty high and with control.
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Thats the key. If you have control of the flight and it works, its a great club and option. The forgiveness is way better than I expected
 
Jeff Spicoli said:
Having instant success with this club is a great sign, obviously. It's lower spin than the UW it would replace, but it's not so low where it's a concern because I am hitting plenty high and with control.
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Do you see a world where you keep both and its situational based on course and conditions?
 
amarkabove said:
Do you see a world where you keep both and its situational based on course and conditions?
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Very possible. Not sure how this will end up looking. Both are good fits for me and work well.
 
Jeff Spicoli said:
Very possible. Not sure how this will end up looking. Both are good fits for me and work well.
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I can see you using them both differently. Its making the decision to change them in and out accordingly that will be harder than actually playing them
 
hedley_lamarr said:
I can see you using them both differently. Its making the decision to change them in and out accordingly that will be harder than actually playing them
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It’s easier for me to hit a draw with an iron than a fairway wood or even the UW and there are a few holes at my home course that are more suited for a draw or just a dead straight line. Not that I can’t hit a draw with the UW but what I saw today leads me to believe I can turn the UT over more easily.
 
Jeff Spicoli said:
It’s easier for me to hit a draw with an iron than a fairway wood or even the UW and there are a few holes at my home course that are more suited for a draw or just a dead straight line. Not that I can’t hit a draw with the UW but what I saw today leads me to believe I can turn the UT over more easily.
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I can see the UT being easier to turn over. Seems more upright, shorter shaft. I had a couple of balls today that I didn't think went very far with a 20 degree but 200-215 in this weather I'll take all day. I'm curious how the UT compares to the Elyte hybrid at 21 degrees. I'm gonna find out tomorrow
 
Done some testing today vs the Callaway Elyte hybrid.

Apex UT vs Callaway Elyte hybrid (the never ending search)

Utility vs hybrid. A common bag battle for the "I hate hybrids" and "I can't hit hybrids because they go to far left" crowd. I have a new utility iron Callaway. The Apex UT in 20 degrees with a Ventus Black 9-TX shaft and a Callaway Elyte hybrid in 22 degrees with a UST LINQ Black 100F5 (x-flex)...
www.thehackersparadise.com
 
Had a freaking field day with this monster today. It took the place of my 4 iron which was my 195 club. I'm hitting the UT about 204 and today I was able to play my soft fade into greens outside of 200 with some success. I was having some inconsistencies striking the ball with this club but I've put in some work on the range and today it paid off. Great day with the UT.
 
K.P. said:
Had a freaking field day with this monster today. It took the place of my 4 iron which was my 195 club. I'm hitting the UT about 204 and today I was able to play my soft fade into greens outside of 200 with some success. I was having some inconsistencies striking the ball with this club but I've put in some work on the range and today it paid off. Great day with the UT.
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The club has a lot more forgiveness than I expected. I fixed my garbage swing for the most part and this club is the barometer. I got it out for 9 holes on Thursday and didn't take any woods. Its a very safe, reliable tee option.
 
hedley_lamarr said:
The club has a lot more forgiveness than I expected. I fixed my garbage swing for the most part and this club is the barometer. I got it out for 9 holes on Thursday and didn't take any woods. Its a very safe, reliable tee option.
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I like this
 
amarkabove said:
I like this
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Studying a few courses locally 220 is the max I need for a full club into the green. Going to change my approach to two of these holes specifically. They hurt my scorecard every time.
 
I took a couple of swings early this morning after working all night. Wet and nasty out. As with any club off the tee, getting throu the ball shouldn't be an issue. I honestly don't notice the ground interaction much with this club. It isn't any different than my current iron sets off the deck.
 
More bad news, the shop I ordered the UT from told me the mmt 105 is now back ordered until April? I was wanting to keep the shafts the same as my irons but maybe will change it up due to not wanting to wait until spring. Any suggestions on what shaft would be similar besides the obvious with going with the lighter 90g mmt. For some reason I found that one a little soft
 
Since I began tracking my data with this club about 2 weeks ago, my GIR is 33%. Now, for me, the UT is a 4 iron replacement and I personally am happy with that because I'm usually about 195 out when pulling this club, at least. I flew the green at 204 a few days ago. I'm also 33% long and 33% short, which means I'm dead straight nearly every shot. It's taking some getting used to with the distance over my previous 4i.
 
Saw one of these for the first time the other day.. Didnt get to hit it though.
 
Templet0n said:
Saw one of these for the first time the other day.. Didnt get to hit it though.
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Much much much better than the Titleist in the feel department. It also doesn’t feel like death when hit in the toe or low.
 
I found a question for this club now that I have unlocked the rest of my swing. 20 degrees carrying 220 in sim. 5 iron of the TiF250 is 215 off the deck. I get to decide if it’s more workable and friendly off the deck. I’m suspecting so.
 
hedley_lamarr said:
I found a question for this club now that I have unlocked the rest of my swing. 20 degrees carrying 220 in sim. 5 iron of the TiF250 is 215 off the deck. I get to decide if it’s more workable and friendly off the deck. I’m suspecting so.
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Questioned answered today in short burst at the house. Launches slightly higher than my present 5 iron setup. One thing that I can do with the UT that I just can't make my irons do is hit a fade on command. Safely in the bag. Just tinkering with possible issues.
 
hedley_lamarr said:
Much much much better than the Titleist in the feel department. It also doesn’t feel like death when hit in the toe or low.
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Interesting. Did you hit the prior apex ut?
 
baylrballa said:
Interesting. Did you hit the prior apex ut?
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I did. Gamed it all through 2025 until I replaced it with the new one.

Did a review/comparison right up at the start of this thread - but what were you looking to know - if I can help.
 
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